STAY-cation

Come with me as I take a "staycation" to one of my favorite places on the world. My local ethnic market! Here are some of the benefits of exploring your own back yard-

If you are buying rice, soy sauce, basil, beans, spices, hot sauces at grocery stores then you are paying too much for them. Go to ethnic markets, everything  is way  cheaper. And local stores dont have sauces that look like this. What if your job was to line up the little fishies. 

 I am know by the nice ladies at Saigon Market as "What is this for?". Usually the people running the store are so nice, informative, and appreciative for you stopping in. Its like a free culinary class, ask questions! It's part of the experience. Here are some of my staples -yuzu juice (fragrant Japanese citrus), Kewpie Mayo, and some tiny shrimp in a jar…cool.

And you just never know what you will find at an ethnic market. Be open minded, don't go on a weak stomach, and support local businesses!!!! I'm off to try a jellyfish salad with Chiba Surf Salt. This would have costed me thousands to go to Japan for this salad. BTW- Jellyfish is on sale right now-Thanks Saigon Market!

Posted on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at 6:40 am. Filed under: Tales from the Galley RSS 2.0 feed.